Holes in the gut? Yes, the body's biggest protective barrier is under threat. We do not protect it and its permeability is increasing, so that toxic substances or bacteria have an open door to enter our body.
Stress and our lifestyles are creating an increasingly unhealthy society: allergy cases are on the rise, especially among children, and there are more diagnoses of autoimmune diseases or cancer. But what about those symptoms that go undiagnosed? Why are we unwell, without having a disease?
At Biosalud Day Hospital we look at diseases and their diagnosis from a causal point of view and we are also specialised in chronic and infectious diseases, which are often difficult to detect, such as candidiasis or Lyme disease. With over 30 years of experience we know that the origin of the disease is often in the gut and we are becoming more aware of the role of the microbiota or what weakens our gut wall.
Increasingly, there is also talk of the Intestinal Permeability Syndrome (or Leaky Gut), referring to a set of symptoms related to the increased transfer of toxins or microbes into the blood through the intestinal barrier. In other words, the intestinal mucosa, the enterocytes, cease to fulfil their protective function because the proteins that bind these enterocytes have been weakened, or are weakened.
The intestinal mucosa is an expanse of tissue that can measure up to 600 square metres; it is our largest protective barrier and is covered by the microbiota and an immunoglobulin layer. All these tissues together form the The small intestine wall and it is the enterocytes that allow the passage of nutrients and minerals, at the same time as stop heavy metals, bacteria and viruses, toxins or food additives.
What happens when this wall is disrupted? The answer is simple: all the substances against which the intestine protects us pass directly into our body. The problem, and hence the difficulty in diagnosis, is that The symptoms of this syndrome vary depending on the system - hormonal, nervous, immune, joint - and the person affected.
When a patient comes to the clinic with some of these symptoms: headache and tiredness, digestive symptoms such as bloating, intolerance to certain foods, or joint painThe cause of the disease is not clear, but our analysis and observation should also point to the intestine.
On the other hand, many of these symptoms coincide with those of the intestinal candidiasis, an infection that is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus candida albicanss in the microbiota, and that it also affects the permeability of the intestinal mucosa. In fact, the hypothesis behind much research is that regulation of the gut microbiota may be a method of regulating intestinal permeability, which may contribute to altering the course of autoimmune diseases in those most susceptible to developing them.
Causes of intestinal permeability
Stress is the most common explanation given for intestinal permeability syndrome; lowered defences, inadequate diet or lack of sleep are consequences of stress that may contribute to inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.
More specifically, alcohol, aspirin or ibuprofen are substances that irritate intestinal tissue and can damage the proteins that seal the enterocytes. However, for many experts, the consumption of these irritants alone does not explain severe inflammation.
There are indeed pathologies and treatments that affect the permeability of the intestine: inflammatory diseases, infections such as salmonellosis, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, immunosuppressants, HIV or cystic fibrosis.
How to treat intestinal permeability?
A personalised treatment requires a prior analysis of the causes of this permeability as well as the degree of affectation in the different systems of the organism. At Biosalud Day Hospital, in addition to our extensive clinical experience, we have different specific analyses to determine the state of our intestinal health, such as the GUTCheck Urine or the Canditest, as well as factors such as the toxicity of the organism, e.g., by heavy metals.
In general, it will always be good to do the following changes in your diet:
- incorporates probiotics to support the good bacteria in the gut.
- avoid meat, dairy and eggs
- avoid added sugars and sweeteners
- avoid alcohol
You can also do lifestyle changes
- exercise regularly
- gets enough sleep at night
- reduces stress
- avoid unnecessary medication, and always under medical prescription.
- if you smoke, quit.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation.
